Rethymnon City

The first findings that indicate human presence in Rethymno date back to the post-Minoan period (1350-1250 B.C). The ancient city of "Rithymna" flourished in the 4th and 3rd century BC, considering the discovered gold and silver coins of this period. However, the city's glory gradually wore off, until it became a common village during the Roman Period. There is no significant information about the region's activity during the next historical periods (the Arab and the 1st Byzantine period). Later, during the 2nd Byzantine period (961-1204 A.D), evidence indicate the existence of a small fortified settlement named "Castell Vecchio".
After the end of the 4th Crusade (1204), Crete was assigned to Vonifation the Momferatiko, who sold it almost immediately to the Venetians.
After a short period of Genoan occupation on the island, due to the Venetian delay to settle in the island, the latter finally occupy Crete in 1211.
The Venetians soon realized the geographical importance of Rethymno, since its port was a mercantile marine transit area, where large quantities of merchandise circulated.
In 1540, due to the city's expansion beyond the settlement of Castell Vecchio and to the Turkish threat that approached, the Venetian authorities decided to re-fortify the city. The weaknesses of the new fortifications became evident in 1571, when the pirates of Ouloutz-Ali entered the city with little effort and destroyed it, burning it completely. Two years later, in 1573, the "Fortezza" fortress was built on the hill of "Paleokastro", an improved fortification that would better protect the city from invasions and sieges.
Finally, in 1646, Rethymno was occupied by the Turkish Empire, following the complete occupation of the island of Crete a few years later. The Turkish occupation ends in 1897, when the island falls into a short Egyptian occupation (1830-1840). During the Turkish occupation, numerous revolutions and uprisings shattered the island. Some of the greatest and most important of those uprisings was the 1866 revolution and the "arcadi" massacre.
ΤIn 1897, the Great Powers decided to occupy the island. Rethymno was occupied by the Russian army, which departed in 1907.
In 1908, Crete profited from the international political developments and demanded its unification with Greece. The demand was satisfied in 1913, when Crete was finally unified with Greece by the treaty of London after the end of the Balkan wars. In 1924, the Turkish Cretans departed and settled in Asia Minor in the framework of the Lausanne Treaty, which declared the population exchange between Greece and Turkey. Greek refugees from Asia Minor took their place. During the 2nd World War Rethymno was bombed by the Germans and many buildings were destroyed. After the end of the war, poverty and bad living conditions forced many Rethymnians to move in Athens or abroad, in search of a better future.
Today, with the aid of tourist development, Rethymno's old city flourished once again and attracts visitors from all over the world.

The museum contains the following collections:
Late Neolithic (3500-2900 B.C.) and Early Minoan (2800-2100 B.C.) finds from the caves Gerani, Melidoni, Margeles and Helenes, finds from the buildings at Apodoulou, Monastiraki and the peak sanctuary at Vrysinas, dated to the Middle Minoan period (2100-1600 B.C.) Late Minoan finds (1600-1100 B.C.) from the cemeteries, the most representative being that of Armenians, finds of the Geometric (1000-700 B.C.) and Archaic (700-500 B.C.) periods from Eleutherna and Axos , finds from Stavromenos and Argyroupolis (ancient Lappa) dated to the Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods.
Historical and Folk Art Museum of Rethymnon.
It houses a collection of hand-woven items, paintings, as well as various folk art exhibits.
Folk Art Collection of the Lyceum Club of Greek Women
Here are exhibited collections of local costumes and jewelry. Also included are a large number of embroidered work and hand-woven articles, as well as woodwork and pottery.
Rethymnon is the capital of the prefecture of the same name. It lies between the other two large towns - Heraklion to the east (at a distance of 80 km.) and Chania to the west (at a distance of 60 km.).
Rethymnon is a blend of modern and old-time dignity and charm. It has a population of about 20,000 inhabitants and is the administrative and commercial center of the prefecture, as well as a communications center. It is well provided with tourist facilities and prides itself on its cultural activity and its significant presence in the general cultural life of the island, much of which is centered on the Faculty of Letters of the University of Crete, established here.
Artistic events are regularly organized, as are exhibitions, plays, concerts and lectures. Rethymnon is linked by bus with the main towns and villages of the prefecture and also with Heraklion and Chania. There is also a regular year-round boat service linking Rethymnon with the port of Piraeus, but the town also makes use of the nearby port of Souda. Rethymnon has no airport, but it does have regular connections with the Chania airport.